Index
Subject
: Re: LUG: [Fwd: Re: KompoZer evaluation]
From
: Brian Fields <blfields@ncsu.[redacted]>
Date
: Tue, 08 Jul 2008 07:32:47 -0400
Parent
I believe that Kompozer is a branch off NVu, since it was abandoned by
Linspire.
On 7/7/2008 4:29 PM, Chris Bullock wrote:
> I have been using this (NVU) www.nvu.com <http://www.nvu.com> for a
> few years. Pretty decent web editor.
> cgb
>
> On Thu, Jul 3, 2008 at 12:47 PM, Lisa Fiedor <lisa_fiedor@ncsu.[redacted]
> <mailto:lisa_fiedor@ncsu.[redacted]>> wrote:
>
> Hi all,
>
> I have recently completed an evaluation of the open source,
> Mozilla-based, Web editor KompoZer, which is available for
> Windows, Mac, and Linux. Linux users may find this tool helpful as
> a Web editor since Dreamweaver is not available for that platform.
>
> Just thought I'd pass on the evaluation below. Please let me know
> if you have any questions.
> Thanks!
> Lisa
>
> -------- Original Message --------
> Subject: Re: KompoZer evaluation
> Date: Mon, 30 Jun 2008 13:19:00 -0400
> From: Tom Miller <tkm@ncsu.[redacted]> <mailto:tkm@ncsu.[redacted]>
> Organization: NC State University - DELTA
> To: Lisa Fiedor <lisa_fiedor@ncsu.[redacted]> <mailto:lisa_fiedor@ncsu.[redacted]>
> References: <4863EFA5.5070500@ncsu.[redacted]>
> <mailto:4863EFA5.5070500@ncsu.[redacted]>
>
>
>
> Lisa,
>
> Thanks very much for doing this analysis! I thought that KompoZer
> might be a good, free alternative to Dreamweaver for our user
> community. It sounds like it might work for some, but probably
> not for the masses.
>
> This is a very informative evaluation. If you think it's
> appropriate, feel free to post it for any interested parties...
> Thanks!
>
> Tom :-)
>
> Lisa Fiedor wrote:
>> Hi Tom,
>>
>> I've spent some time looking at and evaluating KompoZer per your
>> request. Please see my evaluation summary and notes below. Also,
>> please let me know if you have any questions, or need a more
>> formalized report.
>>
>> Thanks,
>> Lisa
>>
>>
>> Summary
>>
>> KompoZer, is a free, open source Mozilla-based WYSIWYG Web
>> authoring tool available for the Windows, Mac, and Linux
>> environments.
>>
>> I disagree with their statement on the Features page
>> <http://www.kompozer.net/features.php> of their website that
>> says, "KompoZer is designed to be extremely easy to use, making
>> it ideal for non-technical computer users who want to create an
>> attractive, professional-looking web site without needing to know
>> HTML or web coding." From my experience in trying to develop a
>> standards compliant website using HTML and CSS, this was not a
>> very simple tool to use. It would provide an inexpensive (and
>> portable) tool for the experienced user, as it provides good
>> access to the HTML code and it displays the relevant tags in a
>> visual format, which is helpful. In addition, KompoZer allows the
>> insertion of PHP code, basic JavaScript, and some advanced
>> element properties, which the experienced user could leverage and
>> who may not have access to a full-featured WYSIWYG editor like
>> Dreamweaver. Since Dreamweaver is not available for the
>> Unix/Linux environment, this tool could be useful to developers
>> on those operating systems. Another open-source tool that could
>> be evaluated for this purpose would be Amaya
>> <http://www.w3.org/Amaya/>the W3C's open source Web
>> editor/browser (http://www.w3.org/Amaya/).
>>
>>
>> Evaluation
>>
>> *KompoZer version 0.7.10 (20070831)
>> *www.kompozer.net <http://www.kompozer.net>
>>
>> KompoZer, is a free, open source Mozilla-based WYSIWYG Web
>> authoring tool.
>> Platforms: Win, Mac, Linux
>> Portable stand-alone edition available
>>
>>
>> Site Management
>>
>> The Site Manager allows for defining multiple sites in which one
>> can see, create, edit and organize files to be included in each
>> website. Although it provides a files panel to see and edit
>> files, but does not allow the creation of new directories or
>> renaming files on a remote server. It does allow for these
>> actions when the Site is directly mapped to a Web-enabled
>> directory located on separate drive (e.g., K or H drive mapped to
>> Unity space) (see Publishing). It allows for the creation of
>> Templates with locked and editable regions, as well as the
>> building of pages off those templates, and the ability to detach
>> a page from a template.
>>
>>
>> Publishing
>>
>> It allows publishing of pages via FTP, although it does not
>> provide Secure FTP, which is required by NC State FTP servers. A
>> workaround would be to have WolfCall installed and access the
>> desired Web space as a drive. Unfortunately, this does not
>> provide the protection of developing on one's local computer,
>> then FTPing to one's remote server, as your working space is
>> directly in the Web enabled directory. A separate FTP program is
>> needed to delete published files, rename files or create
>> subdirectories on the remote server.
>>
>>
>> Page Properties and Elements
>>
>> It allows for the editing of basic page properties and adding of
>> multiple HTML elements on a page, including links, anchors,
>> images, tables, and forms. It also provides simple formatting of
>> body text, paragraphs, heading levels, and lists. See the
>> Accessibility section for the limitations with respect to these
>> elements.
>>
>>
>> CSS
>>
>> It provides a CSS editor similar to Dreamweaver, allowing the
>> creation of Style rules for tags, classes, ids, and custom rules.
>> Within the editor, it allows one to hand-code the CSS, as well as
>> providing options for styling of text, background, borders and
>> lists. It also enables using the box model for positioning, and
>> providing an aural stylesheet. The option for creating an aural
>> stylesheet is not available within Dreamweaver.
>>
>>
>> Advanced Properties
>>
>> For most elements it provides an interface to add HTML
>> attributes, inline styles, and JavaScript events. There is no
>> assistance with JavaScript in the Help documentation beyond a
>> definition, so to use that feature, one would have to already
>> understand what is required as a value for a JavaScript action.
>> The list of available JavaScript attributes is limited to
>> keyboard and mouse functions. It also allows for the
>> incorporation of PHP code.
>>
>>
>> Accessibility
>>
>> * Allows text sizing in relative units, including ems
>> * Provides a clear way to insert alternate text for images
>> upon insertion of said image, as well as an interface to
>> edit this and other image properties.
>> * Allows for adding both mouse and keyboard JavaScript events.
>> * Does not create tables with headers, but allow cell headers
>> to be indicated in the Table Properties dialog box.
>> * Allows for adding a caption for a table, but not a summary.
>> * Allows for adding Tab Index and Access Keys for forms, but
>> does not assist in the creation of a required explicit
>> association between the form label and its related element
>> via the <label> tag. This must be done in the code view.
>> * Enables the provision on an aural stylesheet.
>> * Provides a way to validate the HTML with the W3C's HTML
>> Validator
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> --
>> -- -- --
>> Lisa Marie Fiedor
>> Web Accessibility, Usability, & Design Specialist
>> DELTA Instructional Support Services
>> Campus Box 7111, NC State University, Raleigh NC 27695-7111
>> Rm 2133 DH Hill Library, East Wing
>> v XXX-513-4616 f XXX-513-4005
>> lisa_fiedor@ncsu.[redacted] <mailto:lisa_fiedor@ncsu.[redacted]>
>>
>
> --
> Thomas Kenan Miller III, Ph.D.
> Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering
> Vice Provost for Distance Education and Learning Technology Applications
> Director, Engineering Entrepreneurs Program
> North Carolina State University
> E-mail: tkm@ncsu.[redacted] <mailto:tkm@ncsu.[redacted]> Phone: (XXX)513-5006 FAX: (XXX)513-4237
>
>
>
> --
> -- -- --
> Lisa Marie Fiedor
> Web Accessibility, Usability, & Design Specialist
> DELTA Instructional Support Services
> Campus Box 7111, NC State University, Raleigh NC 27695-7111
> Rm 2133 DH Hill Library, East Wing
> v XXX-513-4616 f XXX-513-4005
> lisa_fiedor@ncsu.[redacted] <mailto:lisa_fiedor@ncsu.[redacted]>
>
>
>